No limits put on “baby Boomers”

Eaton Boomers coach Brett Maguire admits the lack of experienced players in his team this year is scary, but has not put a limit to how high they can go in 2018.

Maguire told the South Western Times that he had implemented a youth policy last season and hoped to see that bear fruit this year, with the likes of Chris Atthowe, Jace Cormack, Will Oelsnik and Matt Buchanan leaving the club.

Maguire said Atthowe and Cormack had signed with Donnybrook, Oelsnik will take the next 12 to 18 months off as he travels Australia and Buchanan has retired.

“We started the process last year to go down a development pathway,” he said.

“As for the players moving on, we understand. There is not much we can do about it. That is just the way it is.”

Maguire said the Boomers were looking at a few players from other leagues to replace the ones they have lost.

“There is certainly a changing of the guard as there is a few retirements and commitments with work,” he said.

“The list will be hugely different from last year, so we are looking to get players in.

“At the moment we do not have anyone signed on. But we are talking to a few players.”

Maguire said winning football games was the quickest way to develop younger players.

“We still want to be winning while also being mindful that we want to develop and have a bit of a strategy for our youth,” he said.

“To be honest we are at the stage where we know who is not playing, but we do not know who is playing.

“It can seem to be scary when you are losing guys of name and reputation, but the exciting part is you can see we have a future.

“We just have to embrace change and if we do that, we can be an unknown quantity. And that is an exciting place to be.”